GAMMA-PROBE GUIDED SENTINEL LYMPHADENECTOMY IN MALIGNANT-MELANOMA

The sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) is one of the most striking developments in the treatment of melanoma. Since the first report by M orton et al. in 1992, the method has been refined, and its use has inc reased. Introduced as an alternative to elective lymph node dissection (ELND), it has rapidly made its way into clinical practice. SLND allo ws precise pathologic staging through removal and analysis of a limite d number of nodes (false-negative rate < 2%). It distinguishes patient s with clinically occult nodal disease from those with tumor-free regi onal basin who would not benefit from radical dissection. However, the SLND is still an experimental procedure with yet unproven utility.